Question:
Doubts and fears

I'm waiting for insurance approval which I'm very hopeful I'll get. I'm having doubts and concern. On one side I ask myself; Is there more I could have done to lose weight. Is this too drastic. On the other side, I'm excited and can't wait. wanting to clean closet of fat clothes.. Is this normal??    — drowland (posted on June 20, 2008)

June 20, 2008
yep, normal I was like that. If I could have gotten a single glimpse of my post op life, I would of jumped on the operating room table without a care in the world. I will be 7 years out in july. My that time has flown by. WLS was the BEST DECISION I ever made in my entire life!!!
   — bob-haller

June 20, 2008
That is normal... I like the poster before me - if i could see what the difference would be in my life i wouldn't have been terrified, worried, scared before going into surgery. i am 3 years postop and 140lbs down... such a totally different life - so much better. i had that worry of why coudln't i just go to weight watchers one more time to lose weight... its still a struggle - just making sure that i stick to hte plan and keep the weight off.. just remember this surgery is a tool - not a cure.. good luck!
   — akirsch

June 20, 2008
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25269713/ If this isnt reason enough - I dont know what is!
   — Redheada

June 20, 2008
I am in the exact same boat. My insurance denied my claim and now I am going to India in late Aug. I am so excited and afraid at the same time. I think we will be fine in the long run.
   — jen-mom

June 20, 2008
You're going through what everyone who has done the surgery goes through. It's totally normal. Jut know that there will be good things and not so good things that will come from the surgery. You probably know what both of them are...you just need to figure out what is the most important thing to you. I had my surgery about 5 months ago and I've lost 75 lbs. I KNOW I couldn't have done it any other way...although I sure wish I could have. Yes, I WISH I had the willpower and other things it takes to do it differently but I also KNEW i didn't. My life is SO MUCH BETTER now...it's almost like I can hardly believe it that my "fat" clothes are long gone, and even some pants that I bought new that were way too small a couple of months ago are now discarded as additional fat clothes. THat feels amazing as I'm sure you can imagine. Not only that but just being able to do simple things easily and without pain of carrying so much excess weight....simple things of basic hygiene are so much easier now. ALthough I'm still losing and still need to lose about 40 more pounds I can honestly say that I feel "normal" again. Yes! THe downside for me has been minimal. No real dumping but just a mild form of uncomfortable fullness which if you didn't have this then you would just continue to eat and not lose...so even though it doesn't feel good it's important to the weight loss. Slightly less energy maybe than b efore because I'm not eating so much. THe biggest thing for me though, is the mental process of giving up my old relationship to food. I still get hungry and think, oh yeah, I'm going to eat something really good, and then I start eating it and after a few bites I'm done and don't care anymore. Still my mind is a little unhappy...then I just think how good I look and feel and say, it's so worth it. Just know that no matter what anyone says or does, you're still going to have the doubts and the fears but for most of "us", life is so much better and happier. Good luck to you.
   — cjjordan

June 20, 2008
I had my surgery in April of 2008. I to had lots of doubts. I had tried numerous ways to lose weight. I am down 63 pds and I feel great. The surgery went great. I am slowly fitting into clothes that have not fit for years. Hopefully you will get insurance approval. Good luck in your decision.
   — bigrich

June 20, 2008
I think you understand now that what you're feeling is completely normal. My surgery was March 3, 2008 and I've lost 77 pounds. The surgery was relatively easy, but it was still surgery! It can be scary. It's probably a very good sign that you are wondering if you could do more. A crystal ball would be wonderful. The thing that helped me "see" that I was doing the right thing for me, was figuring out how many "diets" I'd been on (quite a few) and looking at the before and after photos online. I found someone like myself many times over. Good luck with the insurance!
   — JLomeli

June 20, 2008
I think we've all been there. The "what ifs" always creep up before surgery. But let me tell you, I've lost 105 pounds since November and I'm feeling great. It's not easy, so don't go into it thinking that the weight will drop off without any effort, it still takes will and control on your part but I don't think I could have done it without the wls. I'm glad I did it and am loving the results. Hang in there, if you really want it then don't let your fears get in your way. I pray that you make the right decision for you.
   — PAWLLA L.

June 20, 2008
Yep, its normal cause I am having these same feelings. I just tell myself that its for me and I want to be healthier. If I could lose the weight without WLS I would but I've been there and done that. Just find other ways to keep you motivated.
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 21, 2008
Surgery is a HUGE step...WLS is a HUGE responsibility. If you didn't have doubt and fears, I'd worry about you! LOL It's a life changing journey for so many of us. It's also not as easy as we think it is. (longer term) Sure in the beginning it is just a dream come true...and then it all stops and you are thin and well, just ordinary...It's quite odd...and you have to maintain and fight not bringing back the old habits. You are then in charge of whether you gain or lose or stay healthy even...and it becomes frighteningly apparent exactly what the phrase "It's only a tool" means! You have to make committments to take vitamins everyday...FOREVER! You have to make comminttments to eat healthy...to supplement with proteins...to exercise and get yearly or bi-annual labs and check ups...It's not for the first year that you lose the weight....IT'S FOREVER...Your health and quality of life improves, but it can be gone in a year if you do not follow the rules...Yes...be concerned...Be a little scared...But if you do it...DO IT RIGHT! Make a promise and search yourself deeply to take that responsibility and you will be a happier healthier thinner person for the rest of your life. Fear is a good thing...but knowledge can crush fear. Learn all there is to learn and you will be just fine, but also know that some people do have minor complications...The big complications are rarer...but they do happen...No one can really predict these things anymore than we can predict if someone will have a car accident...It happens... I'd say start cleaning out your closet and looking at catalogs of all the cute clothes you want to wear...You might also get a membership card at the Vitamin Shoppe! LOL Good luck...You can do this! If you can't...that is absolutely fine too...and no one can make you feel bad about that because only YOU can know what is truly in your heart. You will know if you are ready or not when it comes time.
   — .Anita R.

June 21, 2008
Normal, normal, normal! I had the same feelings - couldn't understand how altering my gastric system would turn off the voice in my head that lead me constantly to food. And that was my problem - wasn't it?? Resisted this drastic measure for years, continued to decline in health while watching others have WLS and get healthy. I feared complications but realized that I would have complications from obesity if I did not get the surgery. So I went for it and am SO happy I did. But as others have said here - please realize that it is a lifetime commitment and at times a real struggle to maintain the weight loss. But still so much easier fighting from the successful side of the fence rather than from the ditch of morbid obesity! Fight for your own wellness whatever you decide. This girl is loving the new life even with the new challenges!!
   — sunny99

June 22, 2008
ABSOLUTELY NORMAL! I had surgery just 3 months and 19 days ago. I am down 76 POUNDS already! I would do it again in a HEARTBEAT! I have ALREADY had improvements in my health! I have had to DROP ALL of my diabetes meds! I am COMPLETELY off my cPap! I have dropped about HALF of my medications in my MED bag! I have had a reduction of my Migraine pain AND my Fibromyalgia pain. Hopefully, with the loss of ALL of my EXCESS weight, I will also lose my MIGRAINES and my FIBROMYALGIA! I am able to BREATHE through my NOSE again and SMELL things for the first time in DECADES! YES, I would do it AGAIN in a HEARTBEAT! I had the VERTICAL SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY. I have had absolutely NO complications. I need NO supplements other than the vitamins that I get from the department store. I can take ANY and ALL of my medications without fear of what they will do to my stomach (any MORE fear than what I would NORMALLY have had if I had NOT had the surgery). Unlike the RNY or DS, I need no special supplements and do not have to AVOID any medications.
   — hubarlow

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